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Marco from Hangar 5
Pterodattilo
Netherlands
896 Posts |
 Posted - 12/06/2023 : 13:07:19
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Hi,
My old Nokia 8 smartphone was showing more and more issues in daily use, so I have bought a new phone, a Google Pixel 7.
Last two weeks I have used it for LK8000 during many cross country flights in Germany.
I must say it is not a 100% success story.
My configuration:
Red Box Flarm
LXnav S80 Vario
KRT2 Radio
LX S80 vario and red box are connected via the wired com ports on each device, the LX S80 outgoing signal is connected with the COM0 port on a wifi module that AlphaLima provided me years ago. The Pixel 7 Smartphone is connected via wifi with the LX S80 which passes through the flarm signals and is used as a GPS source for LK8000. The radio is connected via a Bluetooth to the Pixel 7.
With the Nokia 8 all this worked flawless, but the Pixel 7 needed some tweaks to make it work almost perfectly. The new smartphones are too smart and have all kinds of power saving algorithms in them. Also wifi is regulated this way.. but in settings you can turn these off and then it works better. But wifi is sometimes turned off or switches to other wifi signals, when it discovers it has internet access.. it shuts down the connection to the wifi module on board and tries to establish a wifi connection with some random network on the ground. When this happens the message "GPS fix lost" or "Cannot send data to the device" or something along these lines...
Now I know this is the issue I can solve it by going into the phone settings and reconnect to the wifi module on board, and then a COM's restart fixes the issue.. until it disconnects again. But this is cumbersome and quite disturbing.. because it also happens when you are low and need the focus on climbing again.
Anyone here that knows how to prevent Android to look for other Wifi networks when a connection is established?
Another, little less issue is that the power supply that I use, available on the wifi module, is not strong enough to charge the Pixel 7 phone, but when mobile internet is turned off a flight of 8-10 hours should be possible as I have done flights of 4-5 hours and after that the battery was still at 50%. What I do is install the phone when setting up my glider, and then when waiting for the launch for an hour or 2 hours have it on the power supply with the display turned off and no apps running, then it charges to 100% so when launching my phone is at 100% charge. The display uses a lot of power apparently.
Other than that, the Pixel 7 display is wonderful, very sharp and bright easily readable in the sun with amber sunglasses, LK8000 works as ussual. |
Marco
BU (PH-588)
Mini Nimbus HS7, s/n 039
http://www.zweef.nl/
Zweefvliegcentrum Noordkop, NETHERLANDS |
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brunotl
Pterodattilo
France
1171 Posts |
Posted - 13/06/2023 : 00:21:09
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smartphone wifi is made to connect to internet, so, it's not reliable to connect external device.
to solve that, you have few option :
- wifi 3G/4G router to create LAN network and connect all device to it.
- use bluetooth instead of wifi
-> HC-05 + max232 https://www.postfrontal.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9386
-> DSD TECH SH-B23A
-> other adaptor ...
my personal point of view : bluetooth is the most reliable solution...
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brunotl
Pterodattilo
France
1171 Posts |
Posted - 13/06/2023 : 09:46:12
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| to know how to configure android power saving, usefull info can be found here : https://dontkillmyapp.com/ |
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Marco from Hangar 5
Pterodattilo
Netherlands
896 Posts |
Posted - 13/06/2023 : 14:49:12
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quote:
Originally posted by brunotl
smartphone wifi is made to connect to internet, so, it's not reliable to connect external device.
to solve that, you have few option :
- wifi 3G/4G router to create LAN network and connect all device to it.
- use bluetooth instead of wifi
-> HC-05 + max232 https://www.postfrontal.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=9386
-> DSD TECH SH-B23A
-> other adaptor ...
my personal point of view : bluetooth is the most reliable solution...
Agree about BT being better, but I already have my radio on BT, two BT connections of the same type (SSP) on one phone is impossible.
But I have some options to look at and try out, for the competition coming weekend I will revert back to my Nokia 8. |
Marco
BU (PH-588)
Mini Nimbus HS7, s/n 039
http://www.zweef.nl/
Zweefvliegcentrum Noordkop, NETHERLANDS |
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brunotl
Pterodattilo
France
1171 Posts |
Posted - 13/06/2023 : 22:50:03
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quote:
Originally posted by Marco from Hangar 5
two BT connections of the same type (SSP) on one phone is impossible.
why ? |
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Marco from Hangar 5
Pterodattilo
Netherlands
896 Posts |
Posted - 14/06/2023 : 12:45:26
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quote:
Originally posted by brunotl
quote:
Originally posted by Marco from Hangar 5
two BT connections of the same type (SSP) on one phone is impossible.
why ?
I have tried this, and it did not work. |
Marco
BU (PH-588)
Mini Nimbus HS7, s/n 039
http://www.zweef.nl/
Zweefvliegcentrum Noordkop, NETHERLANDS |
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brunotl
Pterodattilo
France
1171 Posts |
Posted - 14/06/2023 : 14:01:37
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surprising i'm able to use 3 SPP devices at same time on all my android device... ( never tried more but i think it should work too ...)
what device do you try to connect ?
maybe all your device have the same BT_ADDR, but that should not happen if manufacturer do there job correctly !!!
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Edited by - brunotl on 14/06/2023 14:13:52 |
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Marco from Hangar 5
Pterodattilo
Netherlands
896 Posts |
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Marco from Hangar 5
Pterodattilo
Netherlands
896 Posts |
Posted - 30/06/2023 : 15:07:34
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| I have ordered a new Bt module from Soartronic to replace the wifi module about a week ago, I remembered I sold my old VFBT-1 to somebody.. But after I ordered, Kimmo turned quiet, I have no idea if it is sent to me already. Anybody here that has experience with ordering stuff from Soartronic recently? |
Marco
BU (PH-588)
Mini Nimbus HS7, s/n 039
http://www.zweef.nl/
Zweefvliegcentrum Noordkop, NETHERLANDS |
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Marco from Hangar 5
Pterodattilo
Netherlands
896 Posts |
Posted - 30/06/2023 : 15:18:33
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| Btw I tried wifi last weekend, it worked well for most of the flight, but when I flew above a big city at 1000 Meters, the wifi connection was dropped, checking the wifi availability on my phone, litterly hundreds of wifi networks show up! |
Marco
BU (PH-588)
Mini Nimbus HS7, s/n 039
http://www.zweef.nl/
Zweefvliegcentrum Noordkop, NETHERLANDS |
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Marco from Hangar 5
Pterodattilo
Netherlands
896 Posts |
Posted - 13/07/2023 : 13:39:10
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Soartronic Bt module received, will try tomorrow evening if I can connect the Radio Bt and this Bt the same time to my phone. If it works, I will remove the Wifi serial bridge and use Bt only.
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Marco
BU (PH-588)
Mini Nimbus HS7, s/n 039
http://www.zweef.nl/
Zweefvliegcentrum Noordkop, NETHERLANDS |
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Marco from Hangar 5
Pterodattilo
Netherlands
896 Posts |
Posted - 25/07/2023 : 09:47:29
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| I have opened a new thread to my connectivity woes, as it is beyond the Pixel &, actually I think the Pixel 7 has nothing to do with it.. |
Marco
BU (PH-588)
Mini Nimbus HS7, s/n 039
http://www.zweef.nl/
Zweefvliegcentrum Noordkop, NETHERLANDS |
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Topic |
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Google Pixel 7 experience